3.0T Chain Rattle?

[MyDimeIsUp]

Hey all,

Just bought this 3.0T 2012 A6 with 103k miles on it. Car looked good but when I rolled the windows down I noticed a small sound on acceleration. When I get home I threw the car in neutral and revved the engine and heard what sounds like timing chain slap. Is this normal after the car has been fully warmed up or do I already need to look into replacing the upper chain tensioners?

I also read this video and comments say it could be something in the exhaust: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkwZwjGxdMM

Heres what my car sounds like: https://youtube.com/shorts/UPpGrgn7cLs?feature=share

[cuerna]

I have a 2012 A6 3.0T too, 115 k miles.
Mine was doing a rattle every morning when first start up, then she was fine, I added a can of BG MOA and doesn't do it anymore...don't know if is a permanent fix but we'll see I guess.

[MyDimeIsUp]

I have a 2012 A6 3.0T too, 115 k miles.
Mine was doing a rattle every morning when first start up, then she was fine, I added a can of BG MOA and doesn't do it anymore...don't know if is a permanent fix but we'll see I guess.

Yeah while it sounds like chain slap the comment from the uploader on that one video I posted said "Problem is the resonation of the exhaust... Audi told me they can't fix this problem and also its not harmful for the car"

Was wondering if others on the forums have had experience with this. It also seems to do some very slight burbles when revved in neutral making this sound. No active codes at all on the engine. https://www.audiworld.com/forums/a6-...2985684/page2/

[Valpo A7]

You will probably have chain noise at cold start up and that is from some chain stretch and more than likely the upper cam tensioners loosing their hydraulic charge. This is normal on the engine and will rattle for 1 or 2 seconds. After that you should be fine . . . . for a while. Audi claims that it isn't really a problem with the engine to worry about. If you get a P0016 or P0018 code or both then that is the time to worry. At that point a minimum of the upper cam tensioners or worst case all 4 chains and 4 chain tensioners. Cam tensioners can be done with the engine still in the car. All 4 chains you have to pull the engine.

engine 6 (2).jpg

And yes it is normal for the resonators in the down pipes to rattle. The fix is to replace them but they are not cheap. As much as $1400 new OEM with no discount or get a set of CTS Turbo down pipes for $500. You might be able to score a set on fleabay or the junk yard but no guarantees on them being noise free. Mine have rattled since we bought it used 85,000 miles ago. I am at 228,000 miles at the moment

[MyDimeIsUp]

Gotcha well that quells my fears. It really sounded like chain rattle and I thought "Damn the tensioners are trash at 103k miles?!" thankfully its just that flex pipe/resonator you and everyone are talking about. I'm expecting the chain rattle on cold start will monitor how long it lasts but at 103k miles and the previous owner being a mom who drove it to and from work on NJ highways I doubt it has been thrashed around or been taken through a ton of stop-and-go traffic.

Thanks everyone! Glad to be apart of the C7 community!

[MyDimeIsUp]

Just an update. Had my friend cold start while I was in the engine bay. Chain rattles for about half a second. I really got a good deal on this car! Just gotta get that exhaust fixed. I'll probably take it to an exhaust shop and see what they can do as I've read people had good luck and only paid about $300.

[akingzkid]

That's your flex pipes. Mine did it for the longest time until it got so bad that I was hearing it everytime I slowed down to come to a stop. You can have an exhaust shop just replace the flex part of the downpipe or just buy new downpipes and have them put those in. Having them weld the flex portion into the existing pipes will be a pain in their butt and you may have a hard time finding someone willing to do that. I bought new genuine Audi downpipes ($850) and had them installed ($300). Expensive but no more noise.

[MyDimeIsUp]

That's your flex pipes. Mine did it for the longest time until it got so bad that I was hearing it everytime I slowed down to come to a stop. You can have an exhaust shop just replace the flex part of the downpipe or just buy new downpipes and have them put those in. Having them weld the flex portion into the existing pipes will be a pain in their butt and you may have a hard time finding someone willing to do that. I bought new genuine Audi downpipes ($850) and had them installed ($300). Expensive but no more noise.

Any specific reason you went with the entire downpipes rather than just having an exhaust shop cut and weld new flex pipes in? Did you have problems finding a shop that would want to do it?

[akingzkid]

Any specific reason you went with the entire downpipes rather than just having an exhaust shop cut and weld new flex pipes in? Did you have problems finding a shop that would want to do it?

Sorry. Just now seeing this. Correct. Went to 2 master exhaust shops and neither would touch it. I then found a shop that would do it and the guy said that he would weld in the flex portion but he still had to remove the entire downpipes to do it so I would not save any on labor over replacing the entire downpipes. He also explained how the materials that the flex pipes are made of whether stainless or something else (forgot...sorry) would eventually rust and fail. He recommended that I go ahead and spend the extra $500 or so and just replace the downpipes. If you are looking for a quick cheap fix and/or looking to save money, have them just do the flex portions, if you find someone who will. Make sure you take it to them so they can tell you what size (diameter and length) to get. They probably sell them themselves. Good luck.

[cuerna]

I am taking my car tomorrow to the dealer to replace the fuel pump [recall) and I'll ask them to check the rattle issue, my car does it every morning for about 1 sec.
I know there is a TSB for the chain rattle, but that does mean they have to do it or is up to them if they want to to do it or not.?

[MyDimeIsUp]

Sorry. Just now seeing this. Correct. Went to 2 master exhaust shops and neither would touch it. I then found a shop that would do it and the guy said that he would weld in the flex portion but he still had to remove the entire downpipes to do it so I would not save any on labor over replacing the entire downpipes. He also explained how the materials that the flex pipes are made of whether stainless or something else (forgot...sorry) would eventually rust and fail. He recommended that I go ahead and spend the extra $500 or so and just replace the downpipes. If you are looking for a quick cheap fix and/or looking to save money, have them just do the flex portions, if you find someone who will. Make sure you take it to them so they can tell you what size (diameter and length) to get. They probably sell them themselves. Good luck.

Well not having much luck here! I called some areas local to where I live and they said we don't touch Audis (even though I'm only asking for a simple cut and weld job) and the others are chain shops which I'm basically flipping the coin on good or bad work. There's a really good place in Philly called Joel Exhaust but it is in a REALLY bad part of North Philly and I am not going anywhere near it. Going to have my dad ask some of his friends if they can do/know someone who can do a simple cut and weld on my flex pipes + cut out the center suitcase muffler and weld in some new mufflers.

What a PITA. I really didn't think it'd be this hard to find a local exhaust shop to cut and weld flex pipes and mufflers in.

[Valpo A7]

Mine has the flex pipe rattle buts it’s not the actual flex pipe section, I have a little bit of material that has broken loose in the resonator and is rattling around in the outer shell. When I had mine out for the engine work I was able to move them around and hear the debris rattle around.

[Alabama]

There's a really good place in Philly called Joel Exhaust but it is in a REALLY bad part of North Philly and I am not going anywhere near it.

The mayor of Philadelphia would beg to differ that there are any bad parts of the city. There are two AZ sponsors not too far from your location: New German Performance, and AWE Performance. I don't know if either would do your work, but if you call them maybe they could help you find a shop that they trust and can do what you want.

[MyDimeIsUp]

The mayor of Philadelphia would beg to differ that there are any bad parts of the city. There are two AZ sponsors not too far from your location: New German Performance, and AWE Performance. I don't know if either would do your work, but if you call them maybe they could help you find a shop that they trust and can do what you want.

😂 As a resident of Philly and someone who grew up in Philly Mayor Kenny is a muppet to say the least. Gonna stop myself before I start my rant, love my city though at the end of the day.

Good ideas on those shops. My last resort was gonna be Meinke, Midas, or Monro Muffler since those are places that will take my car but I'm flipping the coin on a good welder or bad one. Google reviews don't have any photos of the weld jobs so who knows. I'll give AWE a shot and didn't even know AWE was close to me.

[youngd59]

Well not having much luck here! I called some areas local to where I live and they said we don't touch Audis (even though I'm only asking for a simple cut and weld job) and the others are chain shops which I'm basically flipping the coin on good or bad work. There's a really good place in Philly called Joel Exhaust but it is in a REALLY bad part of North Philly and I am not going anywhere near it. Going to have my dad ask some of his friends if they can do/know someone who can do a simple cut and weld on my flex pipes + cut out the center suitcase muffler and weld in some new mufflers.

What a PITA. I really didn't think it'd be this hard to find a local exhaust shop to cut and weld flex pipes and mufflers in.

Hey MyDimeIsUp, I have an essentially new x-pipe in my storage unit that you can have for free. I am located in Newtown Square which is right near you. I installed it on my A7 then shortly thereafter replaced it with an AWE system. Let me know if you are interested.

[MyDimeIsUp]

Hey MyDimeIsUp, I have an essentially new x-pipe in my storage unit that you can have for free. I am located in Newtown Square which is right near you. I installed it on my A7 then shortly thereafter replaced it with an AWE system. Let me know if you are interested.

Hey young thanks so much for the offer! I'm seriously considering this but was wondering if you have a video of the sound. If not no worries I think I'd be happy to pick it up. Any videos on how loud it is or if I can add my mufflers to the x-pipe?

Thanks!

[Burkeomatic]

My '13 had a p0016 at 50k, which also came with a cylinder 5 misfire. Don't know what the PO's did with the car or what the oil changes were like or anything like that. I got it replaced with superceded parts under warranty. I'll still hear one slap at random times, but it could be the exhaust too, which is getting rickety. I've been running nothing but the liqimoly for the past 40k. I think I did my first oilchange with mobil 1, but it is frankly just as cheap to get the liqimoly kit from ECS and painlessly gets shipped to your door for $70 or so and has a new drain plug and oring as well.